Alex Forbes 1925-2014

All at Bramall Lane are saddened to hear of the passing of one of the greats of the immediate Post War years in the shape of Alex Forbes.

Forbes joined the Blades in the summer of 1944 and arrived at Bramall Lane with his boots famously wrapped in a brown paper bag! We signed him after impressing in a friendly against Barnsley Reserves.

Beginning life as a forward, United Manager Teddy Davison converted him to a more defensive role – he played a huge part in United winning the League North Championship and no-one was surprised when he won the first of four Scotland caps as a Blade in April 1947.

He moved to Arsenal in 1948 and went on to win a League Championship medal in 1953 and an FA Cup Winners medal in 1950.

Alex, who made 124 Blades appearances, scoring 17 goals, had spent many years living in South Africa. Our thoughts are with the Forbes family at this sad time.